Top fabric trends to try this festive season
The fabric palette for festive winter 2023 reflects a contra trend, responding to societal sentiments. It balances the desire for grounded purpose with the inclination towards virtual reality. Kanika Vohra and Anuradha Chandrashekar, co-founders of ICH NEXT, provide fashion updates for the season. According to them, stable material surfaces and slow fashion choices are emerging as must-haves. Let us explore some options.
Compact cotton
As fashion moves towards more non-seasonal options, compact cotton become an increasingly smart choice. "A weight that sits between a cambric and heavy poplin, is ideal for light-weight, embellished, volume garments like a lehenga or kurta jacket. Working as the base to a rich pattern palette predominant in the season, compact cotton outfits are ideal for all weather," says Chandrashekar.
Liquid modal
Vohra recommends upgrading your wardrobe from the standard rayon to a fluid, more stable modal. "The fabric is ideal to provide a heavy-bodied appeal while retaining fluidity," she says. "Its naturally opaque quality makes it an ideal base this season, undertaking print and embellishment easily, while also being suited for kurtas, kaftan co-ords, and sharara suit sets," the designer opines.
Raw 'resham'
Vohra suggests choosing coarse, raw silk to showcase an urban yet royal appeal. "Styled minimally onto clean-bodied, structured silhouettes with subtle zari borders or Marodi embroidery, raw silk is an ideal choice for tailored occasion wear," she says. "When tailored with simple, woven zari borders, the fabric provides an exotic southern flavor, complimenting lehenga and columned kurta sets," Vohra adds.
Colored weft
According to the designers, colored weft fabrics, inspired by the Digi-verse mysticism, are a must-have in your winter wardrobe. "Not limited to silks, the trend applies to a variety of bases from organza to crushed tissue to Mangalgiri cotton/cotton silk. An all-festive-season material, choose the weight of this simple, yet exotic weave depending on the seasonality of your calendar or region," recommends Chandrashekar.
Crinkled textures
"A new favorite, crinkled and machine heat-set textures provide the necessary surface variance and much-loved "drama" to the season," shares Vohra. "Choose from a variety of high-twist crepes, heat-set pleats, or hammered silk for the complete ensemble or simply for the statement dupatta," she says. Vohra also suggests opting for metallic weft versions to amplify the glam quotient in your outfit.
